novelraw Chapter 60 Eldest sister, is this what you mean by working part-time and studying part-time?
Chapter 60 Eldest sister, is this what you mean by working part-time and studying part-time?
"Come on, everyone, sit down and eat. Dad, sit on the edge of the kang (heated brick bed), it's warm here. Guiping, sit here too!" Tong Jiahui wanted to take better care of her sister-in-law.
"Sister, I'm not cold while you're helping Dad make the kang (heated brick bed). I'm wearing the cotton-padded coat you gave me, and the fleece vest underneath too. I'm really not cold at all..."
After some polite refusals, Tong Jiahui sat on the kang (heated brick bed), while Yang Guiping and Tong Jiaming sat to the left of the old man. The children sat down in order of age: next to Tong Jiahui were Tong Yuheng, Linglong, and Yuxuan; next to Yang Guiping were Tong Yuyao, Tong Yuhan, Tong Yuchen, and Tong Yuqi. The family consisted of twelve people, except for Tong Linsheng…
The family drew the curtains and sat around the round table, talking in hushed tones. They reminisced about the children's childhood anecdotes, their laughter ringing out.
Twelve dishes were laid out on the large round table, all essential for the New Year's Eve dinner. There was braised chicken with mushrooms, braised bighead carp, braised pork belly, and roast duck, a specialty of Yan City, which Tong Yuheng brought out. Chicken, duck, fish, and meat were all present, especially the roast duck, which evoked memories of past events for the family.
Chenjiatun is only a dozen kilometers from the sea. Villagers would drive oxcarts to the coastal villages to exchange for sea fish. The kind of fish commonly known here as "fathead fish" can weigh over ten kilograms, and a large pot of stew is enough to feed a whole family.
Tong Jiahui traded a seven- or eight-pound bighead carp at the market and stewed it all morning, serving it in the enamel basin she brought from Yan City. The basin was already full, but some of the fish was left in a large, rough porcelain bowl, to be taken to the other two families in the cowshed when they returned.
They also used industrial coupons and money to exchange for some frozen shrimp, which they steamed on a large plate. This place also produces sea shrimp of various sizes. The smaller ones are dried to make "dried shrimp rice," while the larger ones are frozen using the winter's reserves. They can exchange them for things they need during the Lunar New Year.
Another dish that could be considered a meat dish was oyster and radish soup. Oysters were also traded at the market. Many people would go to the beach to dig for clams or oysters at low tide, remove the shells when they got home, and store them with some frozen seawater, which could last for several days.
The remaining six dishes were vegetarian: stir-fried shredded potatoes, stir-fried eggs with chives, braised eggplant, stir-fried green peppers with meat, pumpkin and shrimp dumpling soup, and tomatoes with sugar.
The family ate and chatted, and before they knew it, it was past ten o'clock at night. Tong Yuheng also told his grandparents about his general plans, saying that he would be busy after today, and Tong Jiaming and his wife immediately offered to help.
"Uncle, Aunt, you can't help with this for now. Take these books back with you later. While there's no one messing around and not much work to do, you should come up with a plan and teach us a lesson."
Especially Grandpa, you need to systematically teach us some traditional Chinese medicine principles and methods for treating external injuries. As for the medicinal herbs, write down a list, and I'll try to get them!
Tong Yuheng had long had this idea. Her grandfather's medical skills were learned from several famous doctors, and they couldn't be lost! There were quite a few medicinal seeds provided in the space, so she was mainly responsible for planting them.
"Big sister, should we learn too? We'll be working in the fields after spring, will we have time to study?" Linglong and her brother were not yet fifteen years old, which was the time when they were rebellious and loved to play, and they really didn't like studying.
"The two of you are the ones who need to study the hardest! I have other plans for you. You must finish high school in the next few years. You can work part-time while studying."
During the busy farming season, you work in the fields; during the off-season, you take leave to go to school. After returning home, your aunt and uncle will tutor you in the evenings, and you'll also learn medicine from your grandfather. Our father was a martyr, and you two are still young; I reckon the brigade leader will agree to arrange for you two to attend the county high school.”
"Huh? Big sister, is this what you mean by working part-time while studying?" Linglong looked utterly dejected. Good heavens! She and her sister must be the busiest, right?
"Don't even think about slacking off. Two years from now, I want you and Yuyao to both join the army!" Tong Yuheng announced his plan. The twins were immediately overjoyed; joining the army was their dream.
"Shouldn't we be practicing our skills properly? Why do we have to learn medicine from Grandpa? Or become performing arts soldiers? As long as you can sing, that's enough." Linglong still wanted to lighten her workload.
Tong Yuheng was too lazy to argue with them. He glared at them and said, "This matter is not urgent. We'll talk about it after spring plowing begins!" Heh, wait until you do a few days of farm work and see what happens. You'll probably be begging me to help you get this "part-time work and part-time study" program!
Fifth, sixth, and seventh graders were of school age, and they enrolled together in the town school in the spring. The three little girls went to and from school together, just like the other children in the village, without any problems.
Medical skills should also be learned; everyone should learn a little, as they may come in handy someday. She and Yuyao can learn mechanical drawing and design from their uncle and aunt. In short, we can't waste the sisters' talents and the professional talents of their uncle and aunt.
When Tong Yucheng heard that his cousins were all practicing the Tong family's "family martial arts," he also clamored to learn. Tong Yuheng taught him the most basic breathing techniques, and had Yuhan, who was the most advanced in martial arts, guide him.
She also said that she would have Yu Han and Yu Xuan secretly go to Yu Chen and teach him what she had learned at school. Actually, Tong Yuheng felt that his little cousin was too lonely. He had no school and no friends. He mainly wanted his two sisters to give him some companionship from someone his own age.
Around 11 o'clock, Tong Anfu declined his daughter's offer for all four of them to stay at his home. Instead, he took some food meant for the other two families and quietly left from the backyard in batches...
Meanwhile, Liu Fengyi, who was still hospitalized and had not yet woken up, was trying his best to open his eyes. If he did not wake up soon, he might never wake up again!
Because Tong Yuheng had fed him a lot of spiritual spring water, his bodily functions had gradually begun to recover. He knew in his heart that what his daughter had given him to drink was definitely not just plain boiled water.
He could already feel that his soul had gained power. After a while, he would definitely be able to control this soulless body. But for now, his soul was still bound and could not merge with his body!
"Honey, how much suffering is our third son enduring, being in this half-dead state? We have to take on one person from our family to take care of him. When will this ever end?" Mrs. Liu complained to her husband unhappily.
"How would I know when I'll be the boss? I don't need you to take care of my bodily functions, and you're already complaining!" The eldest brother, Liu Fengyu, didn't like this younger brother and his attitude towards him was clearly not as good as that of the second brother.
"How am I complaining? I don't help them with their bodily functions, I don't do their laundry, and I don't feed them!"